RESEARCH
Container Spot Rates Hit Four-Week Winning Streak in May 2026 as Early Peak Season Bites
The Drewry World Container Index composite reached $2,800 per 40ft container in the week of May 28, 2026 — its fourth consecutive weekly gain — with Shanghai-to-Los Angeles at $3,473 and Shanghai-to-New York at $4,597. Xeneta confirmed Far East to US West Coast rates near $2,884/FEU, while Freightos tracked Asia-US West Coast at $2,127/FEU via its transactional dataset. The divergence between these leading indices (Drewry panel-assessed vs. Freightos transactional vs. Xeneta contract-level) is itself a signal: spot rate discovery differs materially by methodology. Eight blank sailings were announced on transpacific routes for the final week of May, with carriers targeting June 1 all-in rates of $7,000/FEU to US East Coast — a 52% premium over current Drewry-tracked levels.
Findings
- Drewry WCI composite hit $2,800 per 40ft container on May 28 — the fourth straight weekly gain — with transpacific routes leading: Shanghai-LA at $3,473 and Shanghai-NY at $4,597, both up 3-6% week-on-week.
- Xeneta tracked Far East to US West Coast at $2,884/FEU on May 28, describing rates as more than 50% above pre-Middle East conflict levels — and flagged early June momentum building on the same lane.
- Freightos FBX01 (Asia-US West Coast transactional) came in at $2,127/FEU — materially below Drewry and Xeneta — illustrating how index methodology (panel-assessed vs. transactional vs. contract-level) creates legitimate measurement divergence on the same trade lane.
- Carriers announced eight blank sailings on transpacific routes for the final week of May and filed June 1 GRI targets of $7,000/FEU to US East Coast — a carrier-side signal that the supply-side capacity tightening driving the current rally is intentional, not structural.
Delta Engine result
↔ Divergence Detected — Δ 0.4204 (threshold 0.05)
Evidence quality
avg 49 · min 25 · max 55 · spread 30